Jie returned to school the day his fever broke.
The sunlight poured into the classroom just like always, falling across the desks, cutting through the morning quiet.
But to him, everything had changed.
—
Shortly after morning reading, the homeroom teacher entered the room with the attendance sheet and announced calmly:
"Di will be taking a temporary leave of absence. The duration is uncertain. Please respect his decision and don't pry."
The classroom fell silent.
A few students exchanged glances. Someone whispered, "Is he okay?"
But the teacher had already turned back to the textbook and continued as usual.
Jie's pen slipped from his fingers and hit the floor.
He bent to pick it up, but didn't sit up for a long time.
—
At noon, he went to Class 3-8.
Lan was by the window, head bowed as she studied.
Sunlight rested gently on her profile, like nothing had changed.
She looked up, startled. "You're back?"
"I have something to tell you," Jie said softly.
She gave a small nod and followed him out of the room.
—
They walked to the old banyan tree behind the school.
It was quiet there. Leaves rustled faintly on the ground, and the wind brushed against their arms without a sound.
Jie hesitated a moment before speaking.
"Di… withdrew from school."
Lan froze. Her eyes flickered.
"He's taking a break. The teacher announced it this morning," Jie added, voice slightly hoarse.
She gave a small nod. But her fingers were clenched.
She hadn't expected him to show up today. But she definitely hadn't expected this.
—
And then Jie said the second thing.
"I called him that night. Asked him to help me pursue you."
Lan stared at him, stunned.
"He paused for a second, then said, 'Mm.' That's it." Jie looked down. "At the time… I really thought he meant it."
—
Wind passed through the leaves, casting flickering shadows at their feet.
Lan suddenly recalled everything from the past few weeks—
How Di had become distant.
How he no longer offered snacks, no longer brought up their travel plans, no longer met her eyes in the hallway.
She had thought he was cold. Maybe mad at her.
She had even wondered if she'd done something wrong.
But now it all made sense.
He wasn't cold.
He was stepping back.
—
All of it was for Jie.
So he could get closer to her.
So Di could quietly disappear, without causing trouble for anyone.
—
Lan's throat tightened. Her voice was barely audible:
"So that's why he changed…"
"He wasn't angry… he was helping you."
She laughed a little—quietly, and with a shimmer in her eyes.
—
Jie didn't reply.
He felt like he was standing outside something.
Not even an apology would be enough to cross that distance.
—
Lan stood silent for a long time.
Then she whispered, "I don't want to keep running anymore."
"I was planning to go on that trip by myself… because I didn't know how to face either of you."
She looked up at him. Her voice steady now, her gaze clear.
"But now I know."
"The road to find my birth parents… shouldn't be one I walk alone."
"I think… the three of us should go together."
—
As she said that, a breeze slipped through the banyan leaves.
Light flickered across her cheeks—but her words were steady, stronger than ever.
In that moment, she made her choice.
Instead of staying trapped in the past—
They would walk forward.
Together.